Preview: Kickers Looking for Answers at Home on Saturday

Opponent:  NCFC (12-4-5)
Date/Time: Saturday, Aug. 19th, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 2 – Chattanooga 3

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Three Things to Kick About

1. Stick a Fork in It – It might, that’s a big might, be possible for the Kickers to make the playoffs but even if they were to win the rest of their games they would still need help from other teams. It’s a shock to all the supporters to go from top of the league last year to missing the playoffs. Hopefully this means a chance to try new formations, get players some playing time, etc.
2. Implosion – The Kickers had a two goal lead against the bottom of the table Chattanooga last Saturday. The Red Wolves bit back with a vengeance and scored 3 unanswered goals. I wish I had the insight on how a team could self-destruct so thoroughly but I’ve got nothing. An evening that started out hopeful and kept the Kickers slim playoff hopes alive instead ended in defeat.
3.  Emi and the Golden Boot – I know in the first point I said perhaps now is the time for crazy experimentation. There is one strong argument against that strategy. Emiliano Terzaghi is still in the hunt for an unprecedented 4th Golden Boot. Emi sits at 10 goals this season and the current top of the league Trevor Amann has 16. It would take some luck and a couple impressive games but it could happen.

Prediction

NCFC has twice has many wins as the Kickers and have played two less games. The Kickers have not won a game since the first week of July. NCFC have a goal differential of +10 while the Kickers are at -4. There isn’t much to point to that says the Kickers can win this game. One can hope and pray but that usually doesn’t pan out too well in sporting competition. I do know that myself and the rest of the Red Army will be there because no matter what the stats say there is always a chance. That was my heart talking, my brain is saying the Kicker winless streak continues.

Kickers 1
NCFC 3